The Undertaking

The darkness lifts, imagine, in your lifetime.

There you are—cased in clean bark you drift

through weaving rushes, fields flooded with cotton.

You are free. The river films with lilies,

shrubs appear, shoots thicken into palm. And now

all fear gives way: the light

looks after you, you feel the waves' goodwill

as arms widen over the water; Love,

the key is turned. Extend yourself—

it is the Nile, the sun is shining,

everywhere you turn is luck.